Just Finished First Interview

Damn.

That was terrifying.

The clerk, a one S.V. is one intimidating interrogator over the phone. I think over the course of 32 minutes (love cell phones), he maybe spoke for two. The rest consisted solely of me trying to differentiate myself from others and not make a fool of myself in the process.

It began with the question: "So, tell me about yourself." (which, astute readers may notice, is not so much a question as a command).

After a brief explanation of my resume and how I found myself in law school, I got hit with the next great question: "What areas of the law are you interested in?"

Now, here's a dangerous question. Any answer will lead to more probing questioning on that topic. I waffle, and eventually decide that waffling is worse than finding a retreat, so I start naming names. Environmental law. IP. Constitutional law. "Oh really? What specifically? Which cases interest you?"

My use of the word "umm" borders on criminal at this moment. Anyway, I end up taking firm stances calling the Rehnquist Court wrong on the Amish-education case, the Warren court right on free speech, and generally saying very little else.

Of course, we ended up discussing books and Orwell and geopolitics. I say disparaging things about Vladimir Putin. A faux pas? I won't know until offers are made in a week and a half.

All in all, a terrifying experience, made more unnerving by the clerk's absolute inscrutable sense of business. There was no small talk, no pleasantries.

Here's hoping for some good grades to hedge those Northern District applications, you know, in case I did totally blow it somewhere in there.